Giannis Open to 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest After Joking His Twitter Got 'Hacked'
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokoumpo elaborated on his stance toward the Slam Dunk Contest after teasing on social media he's open to entering the event.
While watching Mac McClung reel off a third straight win in the event on Saturday, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant said he might have to put his prodigious dunking abilities on display. Antetokoumpo piggybacked on that and said he'd sign on too.
Speaking to reporters Sunday, the two-time MVP explained why more stars such as himself could consider putting their name in the hat after joking his account got hacked.
"I think you get motivated seeing guys go out there putting on a show. You get motivated," he said. "You know, people that can get up there that might think like, 'If I'm healthy and things are going well for me next year, I will want to do it.'"
One of the long-running criticisms of the Slam Dunk Contest is that it lacks true stars to help draw the attention of fans.
Purely as a dunker, McClung stacks up favorably against anybody else who has entered this competition. He had four perfect efforts Saturday night to become the first back-to-back-to-back champion.
But casual NBA observers still probably have little awareness of the 26-year-old when he has logged five career appearances in the league. None of the other three entrants (Matas Buzelis, Stephon Castle and Andre Jackson Jr.) could be deemed a marquee name, either.
The Slam Dunk Contest would inevitably feel more important if stars such as Antetokoumpo or Morant were involved.
But these conversations have been happening for years and nothing has fundamentally changed in terms of who competes. The idea that All-Stars regularly entered the Dunk Contest doesn't align with history, either. Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant had yet to hit the apex of their popularity when they became dunk champions.
Fans probably got a little excited when they saw Morant and Antetokoumpo's exchange over the weekend. But don't expect either to be part of the four-man field when it's unveiled next February.
